Overview

The destruction of much of the remainder of the Japanese fleet and its air arm in the later half of 1944 left the Japanese Home Islands vulnerable to attack by US naval and air forces. In desperation, the Imperial Japanese Navy proposed using “special attack” formations, or suicide attacks. These initially consisted of crude improvisations of conventional aircraft fitted with high-explosive bombs that could be crashed into US warships. Called “Divine Wind” (Kamikaze), the special attack formations first saw action in 1944, and became the scourge of the US fleet in the battles for Iwo Jima and Okinawa in 1945. In view of the success of these attacks, the Japanese armed forces began to develop an entire range of new special attack weapons. This book will begin by examining the initial kamikaze aircraft attacks, but the focus of the book will be on the dedicated special attack weapons developed in 1944. It also covers specialized suicide attack weapons such as anti-tank lunge mines.

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9781849083539

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<p> In this book, author Steven J. Zaloga covers all of the various equipment and methods that were seriously considered and developed in the last year or so of the Pacific War. The missions they carried out and their success or lack thereof is closely evaluated. In all, it makes for a fascinating book ... I found [it] a delight to read... <br>-Scott Van Aken, Modeling Madness<br><br> The various pieces of artwork found throughout the book by Ian Palmer are superb, some vividly depicting scenes otherwise not captured on film, while others give clear cross-sections of the machines that made special attacks possible. -C. Peter Chen, www.ww2db.com

Author Information

Steven J. Zaloga received his BA in history from Union College and his MA from Columbia University. He has worked as an analyst in the aerospace industry for over two decades, covering missile systems and the international arms trade, and has served with the Institute for Defense Analyses, a federal think-tank. He is the author of numerous books on military technology and military history, with an accent on the US Army in World War II as well as Russia and the former Soviet Union. Ian Palmer is a highly experienced digital artist. A graduate in 3D Design, he currently works as Art Director for a leading UK games developer. Besides his artistic interests he is also a keen musician and motorcyclist. He lives in Surrey with his wife and daughter, and two cats.

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